Emerald happily ate what was the best tuna she'd had in a long time.

Harry smiled at his cat petting her head. She leaned into his palm purring and showing her happiness with the new location. After the disastrous visit from his 'Aunt' Marge, Harry had managed to catch the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron and was having the best time of his life.

Emerald had been just as miserable with his 'Aunt' but for a slightly different reason, said reason was named Ripper.

Typically, Emerald didn't care about dogs. Even bulldogs would be ignored and she would mind her own business. But Marge had let Ripper terrorize her while she was over. Emerald had been chased through the yard no less than five times after she'd arrived for doing nothing more than being in sight. Then Marge had the nerve to get upset with her when she fought back and lashed out at the dog's nose. Harry had never seen a cat glare or give a sarcastic sneer before but Emerald managed it for Ripper.

When it reached the last night of her stay and began insulting his parents, Emerald had been locked in his room for trying to maul Ripper after he'd snapped at Harry's leg.

Privately, Harry was proud of her and made a mental note to give her treats later for defending him. Marge insulted Harry's parents and Harry had eventually blew her up.

Literally. Like one would a balloon. Frankly, she got what she deserved in his mind. No one can go around insulting dead parents and not be penalized eventually. He'd then packed his things, grabbed his cat (thankful that Hedwig had been sent to a friend's) and cleared out. A few hours later, Harry found himself sleeping at the Leaky Cauldron with the information that Azkaban escapee Sirius Black was on the run.

Harry had since then been enjoying his free time to do his homework with free sundaes and exploring to his heart's content.

"Harry!"

He glanced up with a grin as he rushed to greet his friends with Emerald hot on his heels.

Emerald followed loyally by Harry's side as they approached the magical pet shop. She recognized the place as the location Harry had gotten her in his first year. She wondered if any of her litter-mates had been adopted into good families while she'd been gone.

Harry's friend Hermione opened the door and there was a sudden influx of noisy conversation.

"People!"

"There's people?"

"Yeah, three of 'em. And they're kids too!"

"Kids!?"

"Yup!"

"Quick, everyone look cute and adoptable!"

Emerald chuckled remembering this routine. She'd never seen the point as even if young children thought they were cool, that didn't mean their parents would get them.

She herself had been sleeping peacefully before the calming voice of her adoptive mother had told her kindly to look up. She'd done so and came face to face with a human male with eyes like hers. The next thing she knew she would being carried away to half proud/ half saddened voices of her family.

"Go on and look around Emerald," Harry told her. "Come back when I call."

She stretched before ambling off towards the jewel shell encrusted tortoise in the window.

"Hello again Madam Orb." She greeted happily.

The tortoise glanced down craning her neck to look at the young kitten.

"Why, hello there little one." She said in a crackly voice. "You must forgive me as many come and go in this little shop."

"My human calls me Emerald," she explained. "I was the black furry one by the number 7, with green eyes 3."

"Ah, nice to see you again then Emerald. Lovely name by the way." Madam Orb said fondly. "Your mother would like to see you."

"She's still here?"

"She's been here long enough they've selected her a shop pet."

"Oh," Emerald noted in surprise. It wasn't often the store agreed to adopt the pets who called the shop home. Regardless, she bid Madam Orb goodbye and began searching out her mother.

She spotted her almost instantly with her bright yellow eyes and trotted over instantly. When she was noticed, her mother met her halfway sprinting over. The second she was in grasping distance her mother pinned her down and began grooming her.

"Mum!" She protested as her mother's scratchy tongue passed over her back.

"Hello, my child." Her mother said warmly. "Do you have a name?"

"My human calls me Emerald." She repeated.

"For your eyes." Her mother acknowledged lovingly. "Your wonderful eyes."

She looked Emerald over critically.

"You're growing into a fine young cat. Soon, you'll have a litter of your own. I do hope your human is prepared to fight off hoards of toms rushing to have you."

Emerald flattered her ears in embarrassment.

"Mum!"

Emerald enjoyed talking to her adoptive mother until Harry called her back. She bid her goodbye and walked over (but not without being groomed one last time.)

As she strolled over, she noticed the scent of a tom cat. Moving next to Harry, she mewled in confusion before shifting her stare to the crate.

"Hello," the tom meowed.

"Hello," she greeted in bemusement.

The tom tossed his head at Hermione.

"The bushy human has chosen me." He explained. "Which is your human?"

"The thin, small one is my human." she informed. "His name is Harry."

"Do you know the name of my human then?" He asked her.

"Yes, she's my human's friend. She's called Hermione."

"What an odd name." The tom blinked. "Hermione?"

Hermione beamed down at her before crouching down to scratch Emerald under her chin. "Look Harry! They're getting along!"

"Better than him and Scabbers anyway." Ron grumbled.

Emerald gave the tom a surprised expression.

"Scabbers?" She said in disbelief. "Surely you don't want that old thing. He even smells gross."

The tom stilled and went silent. He stared at her incredulously making her feel uncomfortable. Unconsciously, her ears flattened as embarrassment washed over her.

"What?" She asked nervously.

"I must have miss judged you, how many cycles are you child?" The tom questioned.

"Two."

The tom smacked his head on his crate.

"Only two season cycles?!" He demanded.

"Hey, just because I'm young-" she began but was cut off by the rude tom as Harry and his friends began leaving the shop.

"Child, can you not smell the magic in that creature? Or see the humanity in its eyes? That is no rat, that is trouble waiting to strike." The tom lectured.

Harry bent over to pick her up. Emerald kneeded at his arms mewling loudly trying to see the tom again.

"Wow Emerald, what's up with you?" He asked curiously.

"Maybe she likes Crookshanks." Hermione suggested.

"What do you reckon girl?" Harry asked her. "Is Crookshanks your boyfriend?"

'Crookshanks?' Emerald questioned internally. 'What kind of name is- wait what?'

"BOYFRIEND?!" She yowled in horror. "That mangy furball isn't my boyfriend! He's so old he probably helped the first mammals through pregnancy!"

"Watch yourself cub. I'm not that old." Crookshanks meowed in warning.

Regardless, Harry seemed to get the hint and laughed scratching under her chin.

"No kittens from these two Hermione." He chuckled.

"Kittens with that old codger? What a load of tosh." Emerald grumbled.

"You're staying with us." Ron cut in looking at Harry. "Then we can all leave and catch the train tomorrow."

Emerald rolled her eyes but hunkered down in Harry's arms. She wasn't turning down the chance to be carried instead of walking after all.